Danny Combs

There's a few of those dominoes that need to fall in alignment for it to be successful.

So trying to find those locations and then also are near, you know,

jobs because sometimes we get folks in rural environments that reach out which would be incredible but if there's no opportunity for jobs in those environments what becomes the point of the training program it crosses into that semi-day treatment kind of program yeah that makes total sense now working for the state versus this what are some of the differences you've seen doing this

You know, taking this position with the state, I'm so grateful I got the opportunity to do it because it feels like you get a bigger picture of where everybody is at as far as where everything is at at that point.

To that being said, I've been able to meet all kinds of nonprofits across the state that I hadn't had access to before in the past.

Seeing where they're at, I understand nonprofits even more than having run one, which is kind of interesting.

I feel like it both builds you up and then also keeps you humble.

understanding the state processes and why they are the way that they are is really interesting, too.

I think I've learned so much about policy.

I mean, how the policy portion of it, how that really either can make or break outcomes and opportunity for individuals and, you know, having the chance to help support that.

I'm really grateful for that.

I think that's going to help have those kind of conversations and learning how to speak that language in the future in other states.

Oh, absolutely.

And I think the hard thing is, I mean, the way that the system is structured, right, where those legislators, they mean really well, they have really good intent.

A lot of cases, they've never run a state agency or office.

Even the policies that they develop, they don't understand how that

truthfully impacts those running those state offices.

And let alone the interaction between, you know, those offices and the nonprofits that they're trying to serve and the community members they're trying to serve.

The most interesting thing that I have found is like, for example, we're doing a needs assessment here in Colorado.

Our office is getting to spearhead and I'm really excited about it.